Australia safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine

PRIORITY GROUPS

The Australian COVID-19 vaccination program will work in phases. It will begin with priority groups including:

• aged care and disability care residents and workers
• frontline healthcare workers
• quarantine and border workers.

This priority group is also known as “Phase 1a”. The following priority group for vaccination is “Phase 1b” including:

• Elderly adults aged 80 years and over
• Elderly adults aged 70-79 years
• Other health care workers
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
• Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing
• Adults with a disability who have a specified underlying medical condition
• Adults with a specified medical condition

For adults with a medical condition, people will need to provide proof of these conditions to demonstrate their eligibility for vaccination. This can include:

• A Phase 1b declaration form
  • NOTE: Using this form is preferable to other forms of evidence because the form does not require someone to disclose the condition that puts them into the eligibility category.
• A referral from a treating GP or specialist
• A My Health Record
• Your regular GP clinic’s records
• Other medical records including medical history printouts, a chronic disease care plan, a hospital discharge summary or a valid script for medication prescribed for one of the relevant conditions.

Adults living with HIV will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during “Phase 1b”.

Following Phase 1, Phase 2a priority groups will include:

• Adults aged 60-69 years
• Adults aged 50-59 years
• Continue vaccinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
• Other critical and high risk workers

Phase 2b will include the remainder of the adult population in Australia.

Children (people under the age of 16) will only be vaccinated if recommended by health officials in what will be Phase 3.

Together Victoria. The best of Victoria online:

https://www.together.vic.gov.au/victoria-together

Museums at home:

https://museumsvictoria.com.au/museum-at-home/

Facebook Support Groups:

• Tips to stay connected during Covid-19
• LAHRC LGBTIQ Group

Lock-down info, exposure sites and support

The Victorian Government is providing financial support to individuals and businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19).

For information click on the links below

• Victoria Exposure Sites: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
• Get Tested Now: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19
• Commonwealth Government information: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus
• SBS Spanish News: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/spanish/audio/los-residentes-de-melbourne-perjudicados-por-el-confinamiento-por-covid-recibiran-hasta-500-por-semana

We know that many people, including those who identify as LGBTIQ, are experiencing mental health challenges at this time.

For advice on looking after your mental health during the pandemic and a list of support services, including LGBTIQ-specific support services, see:

• Victorian Government information: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mental-health-resources-coronavirus-covid-19
• Commonwealth Government information: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/ongoing-support-during-coronavirus-covid-19/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions.

The Commonwealth Government is providing an extra 10 Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions for Victorians affected by the second wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

For the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website [dhhs.vic.gov.au]dhhs.vic.gov.au or contact the dedicated coronavirus hotline 24/7 on 1800 675 398.

This page describes practical psychological skills to help you and your loved ones cope with anxiety and worry about infectious diseases https://headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support

Looking after you mental health during COVID-19 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

10 psychological tips for coping with COVID-19 https://mindspot.org.au/assets/pdf/10_Tips_for_Coping_with_Infectious_Diseases.pdf

Together, we can ensure people in LGBTIQ communities are aware of available resources and supports during this difficult time. Stay safe.

Financial support

We understand that many people across Victoria have lost work or have had their hours reduced due to the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Victorian Government is providing financial support to individuals and businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). This includes a worker support payment and hardship payment for people required to self-isolate or quarantine, emergency food relief and an emergency rent relief grant.

For information on the range of financial support available see:

• Victorian Government information: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/financial-support-coronavirus-covid-19#extreme-hardship-support-program.
• Commonwealth Government information: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

Below we present a helpful video created by El Oscar with the links and all the information regarding the organisations that can help you in these times.

Oscar: “I hope it is useful to you and like I did, you can take advantage of these. Unfortunately things happen when we are in another country or when we least imagine it, that is why we must be informed in case something happens, we know how and where to go“..